For several years, Hannah did not make the annual trip to Shiloh. Nevertheless, her heart had been full with rejoicing and praise to the Almighty for the great blessing of a son. In her meditations, as she cared for the child, she had seen beyond Samuel’s time to the greater time of the establishment of God’s kingdom when His blessings would be seen in their worldwide scope.
Finally the time came; Hannah brought her precious gift to the Lord and stood once more at Shiloh. The troubles of former days were recalled, the provocations and inner conflicts. The sunshine of divine favor had been experienced and her life had come full circle, back again to the place where she cried out in the depths of despair and God had heard her plea. Her heart was full of thanksgiving to God, and her words poured forth like a fountain, fresh and clear and sweet.
“My heart rejoiceth in the LORD” (v.1). And the reason: “…because I rejoice in thy salvation.” All things are possible, all things work together for good, if we will steadfastly set ourselves to rejoice in God’s salvation. The psalmists of Israel used the word “rejoice” many times. It is the very spirit of the Psalms. Five times they repeat the precise words of Hannah, “I will rejoice in thy salvation.”
“Mine horn is exalted.” In scripture, “horn” is a symbol of power, strength and exaltation, as the power of an animal is in its horn (Psa. 75:4,5; 89:17,24; 112:9). David used a similar phrase: “God is my shield, and the horn of my salvation” (II Sam. 22:3).
“My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies.” This is the only place in the Bible where this phrase occurs. Hannah was now in a position to speak in confidence and even to rebuke her enemies, because God had vindicated her in giving her a son. Now she could open wide her mouth in praise to God.
The plural, “enemies,” suggests that Peninnah had been joined by her children in taunting the barren Hannah –just as Hagar had been joined by Ishmael in taunting first Sarah and then Isaac.
“There is none holy as the LORD” (v.2). The perfect, glorious, and incomparable holiness of the Lord is an inspiring thought. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!” the seraphim cried (Isa. 6:3). Holiness is the highest ambition toward which any mortal can aspire, for it brings him closest to God.
“For there is none beside thee.” Hannah recognized the unique and exclusive supremacy of God. This attribute of God is emphasized throughout scripture, “I am the LORD, and there is none else. There is no God beside me…” (Isa. 45:5,6).
“Neither is there any rock like our God.” This is a figure used by Moses throughout Deut. 32. The idea is strength, dependability, defense, shelter, security, permanence and unchangeableness. In ancient times, a rock could be a hiding place or an impregnable refuge.
“Talk no more so exceedingly proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth” (v.3). The verb is in the masculine plural, which could refer to the sons of Peninnah, or perhaps the sons of Eli (v.12), since Hannah no doubt saw that her son’s mission would involve, in some way, the eradication of these “sons of Belial.” “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Prov. 8:13).
“For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” God does not judge by outward appearance; He judges the heart. Even Hannah’s son needed to learn this lesson when, years later, he looked upon the sons of Jesse (I Sam. 16:7).
By outward appearances, Peninnah was more favored than Hannah — but God was trying the hearts (Psa. 11:4,5). In the conclusion of the matter, the relative positions of the two wives were reversed for all the world to see.
“The bows of the mighty are broken” (v.4). It does not appear that Hannah suffered from anything more severe than the tongues of her enemies. Nevertheless, she sees prophetically the future day when everything that exalts itself against God’s purpose, whether words or weapons, will be broken without remedy. Her thought here is taken up and amplified by later prophets (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3; Joel 3:10).
“They that were full have hired” themselves out for bread” (v.5). Compare the survivors of the house of Eli who, in their future calamity, would come cringing to beg a crust of bread (v.36).
“The barren hath borne seven.” Hannah, and others like her, blessed by God to bear children though once barren, are typical of Jerusalem. The city is personified as a woman mourning at the loss of “husband” and “children,” then rejoicing at the multitude of children born to her by faith (Isa. 54:1-13). The figure is worked out in detail in Gal. 4, where Ishmael and Isaac are types of two classes of Abraham’s seed. The one, Ishmael, represents those Jews after the flesh who rejoice in being literally sons of Abraham but who lack the faith of their father. The other, Isaac, represents the “children of promise,” spiritual Jews, born later, but of a higher status since their link to Abraham is one of faith. Thus the barren Sarah becomes the “mother” of a multitude who, through faith in Christ, partake of the promises held dear by her and her husband.
“She that hath many children is waxed feeble.” Possibly this was fulfilled in Peninnah. But the anti-typical fulfillment is natural Israel reduced to “widowhood” because she has rejected the Lord, her maker and husband.
“The LORD killeth, and maketh alive. ..he bringeth low, and lifteth up” (vs. 6,7). Hannah’s adversity and apparent reproach paved the way for her prosperity. Poor in children, she was rich in faith. “Brought low” because of her barren womb, she was “lifted up” in wonder and amazement at the birth of the promised son.
“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory” (v.8). Hannah’s song relates not only to Samuel, but also to David, the great king he would anoint. Even beyond this, Hannah must have caught a glimpse of David’s great son, Jesus (Lk. 1:46-55). Her son, Samuel, would set in motion a marvelous chain of events that will not climax until David’s “Lord” Jesus Christ will ascend his ancestor’s throne of glory.
“He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed” (vs.9,10). These last two verses look far beyond Hannah’s time to the day when every enemy of God will be broken like a potter’s vessel, when all the earth will acknowledge the rule of His Son, whose “horn” will be exalted (Psa. 2:9; Isa. 11:9).
This last phrase brings Hannah’s prophetic song back to its beginning (v.1). The same God who will exalt her horn will also exalt the horn of His Messiah forever. What a blessing, to be associated with the Messiah in exaltation at the hand of the Almighty! (This is the first direct mention by title of the “Messiah,” “Anointed,” in all of the Bible.)
Links
Hannah’s song has close links with Mary’s song of rejoicing at the prospective birth of the Lord Jesus. The main points of comparison are laid out in summary form:
| Hannah’s Song (1 Sam. 2:1-10) | Mary’s Song (Lk. 1:46-55) |
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v.1 “my heart rejoiceth in the LORD” v.2 None holy as the LORD v.3 Against boasting v.4 They that stumble are girded with strength v.5 Full and hungry v.7 Poor and rich v.7 He bringeth low and lifteth up |
v.47 “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” v.49 Holy is His name v.51 The proud in the imagination of their hearts v.51 He hath shewed strength with His arm v.53 He hath filled the hungry with good things v.53 Rich sent away v.48 Low estate of His handmaiden v.52 Put down the mighty and exalt the low
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The Origin of the Organic World – Part One